Mechanism for operating and controlling railway-switches



(No-Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I J. N. STRONG. MECHANISM FOR OPERATING AND CONTROLLING RAILWAYSWITCHES. N0. 668. Patented 00t.6, 1891.

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(No Modem 3Sheets-Sheet 2.

, 'J. N. STRONG. MEOHANISM FOR OPERATING AND CONTROLLING RAILWAYSWITCHES.

No. 460,668 Patented Oct. 6, 1891.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. N. STRONG. NBGHANISM FOR OPERATING AND CONTROLLING RAILWAY SWITCHES.

No. 460,668. Patented Oct. 6, 1891.1.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN N. STRONG, OF WVASHINGTON HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS.

MECHANISM FOR OPERATING AND CONTROLLING RAILWAY-SWITCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,668, dated October6, 1891. Application filed August 22, 1890. Serial No. 362,704. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that I, JOHN N. STRONG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vashington Heights, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanismfor Operating and Controlling Railway-Switches, of which I do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

A frequent cause of serious accidents to railway-trains is due tocarelessness upon the part of switchmen in misplacing or leaving openthe switches. The object of my presentinvention is to prevent accidentsof this character; and this object I have accomplished by placing theswitching apparatus within a suitable crib or inclosure, through thedoor of which it is necessary that the switchman shall pass before itbecomes possible for him to operate the switching apparatus. In thepreferred form of my invention, also, the door or doors will closeautomatically and will be locked necessarily by the switchman before hecan place the switch-operating mechanism in such condition as to enablehim to shift the switch from the closed to the open position; and in thepreferred form of my invention,

also, this locking of the door by the act of the switchman, preliminaryto the shifting of the switch, occurs before the switch-shiftinglever isbrought to a point where it can be swung to move the switch. As aconsequence, it becomes impossible for the switchman, after he haspassed into the crib or inclosure and placed the switch-operatingmechanism in position for shifting the switch, to leave the inclosureeither through carelessness or design until he has restored the switchto a closed position and has placed the switch-operating mechanism inlocked condition.

My invention consists, primarily, in provid ing a switch-operatingmechanism with alug adapted to lock and hold the doors of the crib solong as the switch is in open position; and my invention furtherconsists in various novel features of construction and combina tion ofparts hereinafter described, and defined in the claims, whereby the morecertain and effective guarding of the switch-operating mechanism issecured.

Figure 1 is a view in central vertical section through the switchmechanismembodying my invention and through the crib or inclosurewherein itis contained, the doors of the switch being shown as open.Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged views, in vertical section, through theswitch-operating mechanism, the parts being shown. in differentposition. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are detail views of the switch-leverlockmech anism. Fig. 7is an enlarged view, in side elevation, of theswitch-operating and door-locking mechanism. Fig. 8 is a top view of theswitch-operating and door-locking mechanism. Fig. 9 is a view inhorizontal section upon line 9 9 of Fig. '7. Fig. 10 is an inverted planview of the disk and connected parts at the top of the switch-operatingshaft. tail view, in side elevation, of the parts shown in Fig. 10. I

A designates the crib or house wherein the switch-operating mechanism isinclosed, this house being of any suitable size, shape, construction, ormaterial, and provided with any desired number of doors a. Preferablythe upper part of the house A between the ceiling and the roof will befurnished with a suit able door, through which the mechanism containedwithin such space may be readily reached for oiling or repairs.

. From top to bottom of the crib or inclosure A extends theswitch-operating shaft B, this shaft being sustained in a mannerpermitting it to have a limited vertical movement imparted thereto bythe switch-lever, as will presently appear. This shaft has its lower endadapted to seat within a suitable socket 2 beneath the floor of the criband to engage with a switch-shifting wheel B, from which a suitableshifting-rod B or other convenient connection will extend to the movableswitchrails.

Upon the upper end of the shaft B is keyed a wheel or plate 0, (or asuitable segment wheel or arm may be substituted for this wheel,) andthe outer edge of this wheel e11- gages, by means of suitable blocks orlugs 3 and 4, with a shifting-bar D, that is mounted to slide withinsuitable grooves 5, formed in the table E and adapted to receive theguideribs of the shifting-bar D. The upper portion of this shifting-barD is furnished with the arms cl, wherein is mounted the locking- Fig.11is a depawl F, the rear portion of this pawl being preferably extendedto limit the upward throw of the pawl, and the front portion of the pawlbeing preferably furnished with one or more shoulders or stops 6 tolimit its downward movement. The forward end of this pawl F is adaptedto engage with a ratchetwheel G, carried by a shaft g, that is journaledin suitable bearings of the table E, and upon this shaft B, andconnected to ratchetwheel G, is also mounted one or more wheels orpulleys 11,-over which will pass the chains or cables that hold the doorin locked position. If two doors are employed, as in the constructionillustrated, then preferably two chainwheels H will also be used. Thechains h, that pass over the peripheries of the wheels H, are connectedto these wheels and also to the doors a of the crib or inclosure, and bypreference a spring K, having one end fixed, as at k, to some permanentpart of the structure and having its opposite end attached to a yoke K,the arms of which are attached to the wheels 11, serves to turn thesewheels normally to such position as to wind the chain It upon the wheelsin such manner as to bring the doors a to the closed posit-ion. Insteadof the spring K a weight might obviously be used. Two anti-frictionrollers U may be employed, if desired, for the chains h.

The normal position of my switch-operating mechanism is that illustratedin Fig. 1 of the drawings-that is to say, the switch is closed 1, 2 inline with the main track, the operatingshaft B is raised to the extremeof its movement, and the wheel or disk 0 sustains the locking dog orpawl F out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel G.Consequently, while the spring K tends to hold the wheels to theposition shown in Fig. 2, and thereby retain the doors a in position,still these doors can be readily opened against the force of the spring,and in so doing the wheels H will be freely turned. Hence solong as theswitch is in closed position the switchman is allowed free ingress andegress to and from the crib.

The operating-shaft B is provided with a slotted arm 10, to which isconnected the inner end of the switch-lever L, this lever having,preferably, a yoke-shaped end, through which passes a suitable pin Z,that passes also through the slot or opening of the arm 10. The arm 10is also provided, by preference, with a stop-pin 11 to limit the upwardmovement of the lever L. The lever L is adapted to move within the slotin of a suitable segment plate or ring M, mounted upon the top of theswitch-stand XV, and from the sides of the lever L project thetrunnion-pins 15, adapted to enter the cut-away spaces or grooves m,formed in that portion of the segment plate or ring M at the sides ofthe slot m. From the upper face of the segment plate or ring M alsorises the inwardly-projecting ledge M, the overhanging portion m ofwhich is adapted to be struck by the outwardly-extending arm 16 of theswitch-lever L, and thereby in sure the accurate horizontal movement ofthe lever as it is swung from side to side for the purpose of operatingthe shaft B. The out: wardly-extending arm 16 of the lever L is also bypreference furnished with laterally-extending portions 17, which preventthe lifting of the lever L above its horizontal position. A furtherfunction of the pins 11, that project from the shaft-arm 10, is to enterthe slots or notches 18, formed in the upper face of the lever L, andthus prevent the outward movement of the lever after it has been swungto its horizontal position.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the function of theswitch-lever L is not merely to impart a partial rotation to the shaft13, but as well, also, to impart a vertical movement to this shaftsufficient to cause the lifting of the plate 0, and through the mediumof this plate and the shifting-bar D to cause the locking-pawl F to bethrown out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel G, so as topermit the rotation of the wheels II, and consequently allow the openingof the doors. Thus it will be seen byreference to Fig. 1 of the drawingsthat when the switch-lever L is in the vertical position there shown thevertical shaft B willbe raised and the locking dog or pawl F willbe heldout of engagement with the ratchet-wheel G, so that the switchman canfreely enter the crib or inclosure in order to operate the switch; butwhen the switch-lever is in such vertical and locked position the switchwill be closed and must remain closed until the switch-lever has beenraised to the horizontal position seen in Fig. 7 and has been swung tothe right or to the left. After the switchman has entered the crib orinclosure and has released the switch-locking lever O, in manner to bepresently described, he will swing upward the free end of theswitch-lever, and in so doing the weight of the shaft B and connectedparts will cause the trunnion-pins 1.5, projecting from the sides ofthis switch-lever,to ride along the bottom edge or lower wall of thegrooves or slots m and force the pins 17 up the front portions m ofthese slots, and as the pins 17 ride up the front portions of the slotsthe rear end of the switch-1ever L will be forced inward, so that whenthe lever reaches a horizontal position the pins 11 that projectlaterally from the arm 10 of the shaft B,will enter the notches 18 ofthe lever L and not only prevent this lever from beinglifted above thehorizontal position, but also prevent it from being drawn in outwarddirection. So, also, the lifting of the lever above the horizontalposition will be prevented by the engagement of the laterallyprojectingportions 17 upon the outwardlyextending arm 16 with the overhangingedges m of the ring M, through the slot of which the lever L passes asit is lifted. As the lever is thus brought to horizontal position theshaft B will descend to such extent as to permit the locking pawl or IIOdog F to pass into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel G.Hence, it will be seen that when the operating-lever L has been brought,into such position that it will serve to turn the shaft B,and'consequent-ly to shift the switch from its closed position, the dogor pawl F will check the movement of the wheels H and so prevent theopening of the door a to permit the switchman to pass from the crib orinclosure.

The form of switch-lever lock which I prefer to employ for securelyguarding the operating-lever L is more particularly illustrated in Figs.4, 5, and 6 of the drawings. This lock consists of a lever O, that ispivoted, as at 0, in the upper part of the switch-stand WV and adjacentto the vertical path of the switch-lever L as it is swung in verticaldirection, and by preference I employ a spring N, with free ends bearingagainst the back edge of the locking-lever O to hold this lever normallyparallel with the path of movement of the operating-lever L. Adjacent tothe rear end of the locking-lever O, and normally parallel therewith, ispivoted the supplemental lever or dog 0, from which projects a pin 0into a slot 0 formed in the rear end of the locking-lever O. Thelocking-lever O is provided, preferably, with two teeth or projections 0and 0 at opposite sides of its pivot-point, and the supplementallocking-lever 0 is provided with a single tooth or projection 0 theseseveral teeth or projections 0 0 and 0 extending into and normallyobstructing the upward swinging movement of the switch-lever L, thetooth or projection o of the supplemental locking-lever being located,preferably, between the teeth 0 and 0 of the locking-lever O. From thisconstruction it will be seen that if the switch-lever L is in thevertical and locked position shown in Fig. 1 and the switchman haspassed into the crib or inclosure to operate the switch it is onlynecessary for him, in order to release the switch-lever L, to swing thelocking-lever O first in the direction of the arrow, Fig. at, so as tocause the projection 0 of the locking-lever O to pass away from the pathof the switch-lever L and permit this lever to be drawn outward until itis engaged by the tooth or projection o of the supplementallocking-lever O. The switch man will then shift the locking-lever O inthe opposite direction and thereby cause the supplemental locking-leverO to turn upon its pivot-point in such manner as to throw the tooth orprojection 0 of this suppl mental lever, and as well, also,-the tooth orprojection 0 of the lockinglever 0, out of the path of the switch-leverL, which can thereupon be swung upward and moved inward until it isarrested by the engagement of the pins 11 with the notches 18 and untilthe pins 17 contact with the overhanging rim m of the ring M. The switchlever will then be in position to be freely swung from side to side toopen and shift the switch, as desired, the shaft B will be in itslowermost position, the doors of the crib will be closed by the actionof the coiled spring K, and will be securely locked by reason of theengagement of the dog or pawl F with the ratchet-Wheel G.

From the foregoing description it is manifest that with the parts abovedefined properly manipulated the possibility of the switchman leavingthe switch open is avoided; but as it is desirable to guard to acertainty against the carelessness of the switchman and as well, also,the malicious mischief of others, I have provided the additionalmechanism next to be described.

Upon the upper end of the shaft B is fixed the guard-arm P, adapted tomove Vertically through a slot 19, formed in the rearwardlyextendingportion E of the table E. In this portion E of the table is formed ahorizontal groove or channel 6, wherein moves the check bar or wire R,(see Fig. 3,) the arms of which are connected to the sides of the wheelsH, so that the check-bar moves back and forth over the portion E of thebed as the wheels H are rotated. When the doors are in unlocked and opencondition, the check-bar R will extend beneath the guard-arm P, and ifattempt be made to operate the switch-lever while the doors are thusopen it will be found impossible, because the check-rod R will preventthe descent of the guard-arm P and the shaft B, and consequently willprevent the upward movement of the switch-lever to a horizontalposition, in which alone it can be operated. Moreover, it will be foundthat during any such attempt the notches 20 upon the under side of theguard-arm P will engage with the check-rod R and prevent the dropping ofshaft B (even if the doors be closed) until the switch-lever has beenreturned to its vertical locked position, and thus in proper manner andwith the crib-doors closed swung upwardly to horizontal position. On theother hand, when the doors are locked and the shaft B in its lowermostposition and the locking dog or pawl F in engagement with theratchetwhcel G it will be impossible to lift the shaft B a sufficientdistance to raise the pawl F out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel G,because the lever L can only be put down to raise the ratchet-wheel Gwhen the switch is in closed position.

The chains or cables it, that connect the doors a to the wheels II, are,by preference, extended around these wheels and passed thence andattached to a door-closing arm or bar 8, (a suitable wheel maybeemployed,) attached to the shaft B below the plate 0. This arm 8 may beof any convenient form; but in the accompanying drawings I have shown itof rhomboidal shape, as I have found this form most effective inpractice, and beneath the arm 8 and fixed to the shaftB is achain-supporter s, also, by preference, of the shape shown. Hence itwill be seen that if attempt were made to hold open the doors a of thecrib or inclosure and with them in such position to operate the switchit would be found that as the shaft B was turned by the switch-lever toopen the switch the turning of this shaft would impart a partialrotation to the doorclosing arm S, causing this arm to force the chainIt to impart suiiicient rotation to the wheels II to insure the closingof the door. Manifestly, therefore, it will be found impossible eitherto unlock and open the switch so long as the doors of the crib are openor to open the doors of the crib so long as the switch is in openposition.

It will be observed that the switch-wheel at the base of the shaft B isprovided with a square seat or socket, wherein will lit the squaredlower end of the shaft B, so that notwithstanding the vertical movementof this shaft the turning of the switch-wheel cannot be effectedindependently of the shaft. By preference, also, I provide theswitch-wheel with meanssuch, for cable leading from the crib orinclosurewhereby a danger-signal may be operated at any desired distancefrom the crib or inclosure. Hence it will be seen that when the switchis in closed position the danger-signal may be in proper condition toindicate this fact, and when the switch is open the danger signal willbe necessarily shifted to expose it to the engineer of the passingtrain. In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I have also shown in dottedlines a wheel X, that will be journaled at one side of the switchstand,and over this wheel will pass a suitable chain or cable at, that willpass, also, over suitable pulleys cc and thence to a dangersignal moreor less remote from the crib or inclosure. This arrangement of wheel andchain or cable for controlling the danger-signal is more particularlydesigned for shifting at proper times a vertical danger-signal. Thewheel X will be provided witha suitable notch 09, adapted to be engagedwith a pin m projecting from the side of the switchlever Ii, so that asthe switch-lever is raised and lowered a corresponding movement will beimparted to the wheel X in order to properly shift the danger-signal.

The details of construction above set out may be varied within widelimits without departing from the spirit of my invention, and as well,also, features of the invention may be employed without its adoption anentirety.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

I. The combination, with suitable switchoperating mechanism,of aninclosure for said mechanism, having a door (one or more) operativeindependently of the switch-operating mechanism when the switch isclosed, and a lock device connected to the door and to a lever devicehaving two movements, one of which operates the lock and the other theswitch, whereby the lock device shall be engaged before the switch canbe shifted from example, as a chain or its closed position and shall bedisengaged only after the switch is returned to its closed position,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with suitable railwayswitch'operating mechanism, ofan inclosure for said mechanism, having a door (one or more) operativeindependently of the switchoperating mechanism when the switch isclosed, suitable mechanism controlled by the switch-operating mechanismto lock the door when the switch is to be opened, and a suitable springor equivalent device for closing the door, substantially as described.

3. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination, with an inclosure forsaid mechanism, of a shaft whereby the switch will be operated, aswitch-lever for turning said shaft, and a suitable lock deviceconnected to the door and to a lever device havingtwo movements, one ofwhich operates the lock and the other the switch, whereby the lockdevice shall be engaged before the switch can be shifted from its closedposition and shall be disengaged only after the switch is returned toits closed position, substantially as described.

4. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination, with a suitableinclosure for said mechanism, of a shaft for operating the switch, aswitch-lever for turning said shaft, a suitable lock mechanism for thedoor or doors of the inclosure, adapted to be thrown into and out ofengagement with said shaft, and a suitable switch-lever lock forsecurely locking the switch-lever until the door or doors of saidinclosure have been locked, substantially as described.

5.. In switch-operating mechanism, the co mbination, with a shaft foroperating the switch, of a switch-lever for moving said shaft, and alock mechanism for the door or doors of the inclosure, comprising asuitable wheel or wheels, a chain or cord leading from said wheel orwheels to the door or doors of the inclosure, a pawl and ratchet fordogging the movement of said wheel or wheels, and means whereby saidpawl and ratchet may be thrown out of engagement when the switch is tobe opened, substantially as described.

6. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination, with a suitableinclosure for said mechanism, having a door or doors, of a shaft foroperating the switch, a switch-lever for shifting said shaft, a chain orcable for engagement with the door of the inclosure, a wheel or pulleyfor winding said chain or cable to close the door, a ratchet-wheelconnected to said pulley, a pawl for locking the movement of saidratchet-wheel, and suitable means connected to the switch operatingshaft for throwing said pawl out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel topermit the door to be opened, substantially as described.

7. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination, with an inclosure forsaid mechanism, having a door, (one or more,) of a vertically-movableswitch-operating shaft, a chain IOC IIO

or cable connected to the door, awheel or pulley for winding said chainor cable, a ratchetwheel connected to said wheel or pulley, a pawl forengagement with said ratchet-wheel, suitable means for throwing saidpawl out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel, and a suitable guardmechanism to prevent the raisingand lowering of said shaft to operatethe switch when the door of the inclosure is in open position,substantially as described.

8. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination,with an inclosurefol-said mechanism, having a door, (one or more,) of a verticallymovableswitch-operating shaft, a chain or cable connected to said door, a wheelfor winding the chain or cable, aratchet-wheel engaging with saidwinding-wheel, a pawl adapted to be thrown into and out of engagementwith said ratchet-wheel, a plate or disk upon said switch operatingshaft, and suitable mechanism for connecting said disk with the pawl,whereby said pawl may be raised and lowered with the movements of theshaft, substantially as described.

9. In switch-operating mechanism, the combination,with a suitableinclosure for said mechanism, having a door, (one or more,)of aswitch-operatin g shaft, a chain or cable connected to the door, awheelor pulley for winding said chain or cable, a suitable arm or equivalentconnected to said switch-operating shaft, and a chain or cable connectedto said arm and to the winding-wheel or pulley, whereby when said shaftis operated to shift the switch the door will be closed, substantiallyas described.

10. In switch operating mechanism, the combination, with a suitableinclosure for said mechanism, having a door, (one or more,) of avertically movable switch operating shaft, suitable lock mechanism forsaid door, and aswitch-lever connected to said shaft and adapted toraise and lower said shaft to throw the lock mechanism into and out ofengagecombination, with the switch-operating shaft and its lever andstand, of a suitable wheel sustained by said stand and adapted to beengaged by the lever when the switch-lever is raised, and a suitableconnection leading from said wheel and adapted to operate adanger-signal, substantially as described.

JNO. N. STRONG.

Witnesses:

GEo. P. FISHER, J12, T. B. CARPENTER.

